My latest ‘Cubs History’ piece featured Waddell’s brief tenure with the Cubs. O’Brien was kind enough to fill me in on some slight inaccuracies with the post, and I’ve since updated the post accordingly. Below is a copy of his email to me.

He dropped 40lbs, which is no small feat. And of course, the hope is he’s lost his sophomore slump with the extra weight, too.

As a tribute to Soto, here’s what some other Cubs would weigh-in at having lost 40lbs–not that they all should, of course. But if there is a lone exception it’s none other than the round mound of pounds that is Carlos Silva.

I wonder if the Cubs–then known as the Orphans– had any idea what they lost by suspending left-hander Rube Waddell late in the summer of 1901?

Just seven months earlier Chicago acquired the 24-year-old from Pittsburgh, who in turn led the club in wins (14), ERA (2.81) and finished second on the staff in strikeouts (168).

But with the Cubs finishing the 1901 season 33-games below .500, perhaps the entire team was viewed expendable, including the future HOF Waddell, who ended up in the CALIFORNIA League the following season.

The Cubs need more depth to the rotation and Lowry, looking to sign before the start of Spring Training, is in the market for a cheap, one-year, incentive laden deal.

Of course, the guy’s a total rebuild project, not quite reaching the level of a Mark Prior, but heading down the same road, nonetheless.

Since last pitching in the majors two seasons ago, Lowry has suffered through neuromuscular forearm problems, bones spur removal in his pitching elbow, the removal of a rib and thoracic outlet syndrome–shoulder and neck pain that causes numbness in the forearm. Yeesh!